A Leader in Research to Prevent Blindness

The Dana Center for Preventive Ophthalmology

The Dana Center for Preventive Ophthalmology at the Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute, founded by Alfred Sommer, M.D., M.H.S.,is a leader in global and domestic research on blindness prevention and the only World Health Organization collaborating center in the United States. Our center guides research-based programmatic activities and educates future leaders to alleviate unnecessary blindness worldwide

Our faculty includes ophthalmologists, epidemiologists, statisticians, programmers, project coordinators and administrative personnel. Together, our mission is to prevent avoidable visual disability and blindness around the globe by conducting valuable research, using sound public health policies and programs, and training the next generation of leaders in public health ophthalmology.

Research at the Dana Center focuses on national and international public health prevention of blinding eye disease.

News and Upcoming Events

The Dana Center's Vision for Baltimore Program Wins Prestigious Award from Prevent Blindness

Prevent Blindness created the Jenny Pomeroy Award for Excellence in Vision and Public Health to recognize an individual, team, or organization that has made significant contributions to the advancement of public health related to vision and eye health at the community, state, national, and/or international level. The team was selected for the award for their work investigating and addressing vision-related problems in high-poverty schools. Read more.

The SToP Glaucoma Team Celebrates Black History Month

Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh and Baltimore City officials celebrate Black History Month with members of the SToP Glaucoma team at the annual Waxter Wisdom Special Presentation. The Baltimore City Health Department, which organizes the event, expressed its gratitude to the program forproviding glaucoma and vision care services to local senior community members.

2017 Dana Center Meeting: What are the Next Steps in Public Health Ophthalmology

Dana Center alumni and invited guests met at Johns Hopkins to discuss important public health issues in eye care. This invitation-only event featured a lunch reception, discussions about trachoma, cataract and low vision, updates by graduates of the Dana Center, a tour of the Dana Center and the Wilmer Eye Institute, and a post-event gathering at the house of Dr. David Friedman.See photos from the event.

Our Impact

Vision for Baltimore | BREDS Research Breeds Partnership

A unique partnership will provide free eyeglasses and vision screenings for pre-kindergarteners to eighth-graders in all Baltimore City public schools, and includes a three-year study of how eyeglasses affect reading skills and academic performance.

Stop Glaucoma | David S. Friedman PSA

David S. Friedman, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D., director of The Dana Center, discusses a free eye screening program throughout Baltimore City that is also looking to detect glaucoma in individuals who may not know they have the condition.